Wastewater treatment plants fined $3.3 million

Hebei province has fined six wastewater treatment plants nearly 20.48 million yuan ($3.3 million) for discharging excessive pollutants.

A plant in Zaoqiang county was ordered to pay more than 6.8 million yuan, the highest fine among the six, for not taking requested corrective measures, according to the Hebei provincial Environmental Protection Department.

Another five plants - one each in Chengde, Zhangjiakou and Langfang and two in Cangzhou - also were fined. The five plants were punished with penalties ranging from tens of thousands of yuan to millions.